Air foil kite

ABSTRACT

A kite comprising a flexible air foil contoured structure formed of top and bottom sheets or members joined together at rear margins thereof, and a plurality of vertically positioned axially extending partition sheets extending between the top and bottom members at parallel, laterally spaced portions thereof to form several air receiving pockets in the structure and air flow slots are formed at the rear portions of the pockets.

United States Patent [191 Brown [451 Apr. 23, 1974 AIR FOIL KITE [75]Inventor: Nancy F. Brown, Akron, Ohio [73] Assignees: Steven A. Leporis,Jr., Barberton;

William M. Brown, Akron, both of, Ohio part interest to each [22] Filed:Oct. 19, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 299,053

[52] US. Cl 244/153 R [51] Int. Cl. B64c 31/06 [58] Field of Search244/155 R, 155 A, DIG. 1,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,740,008 6/1973 Gravel244/153 R Primary Examiner-Trygve M. Blix AssistqntExaminer-Paul E.Sauberer Attorney, Agent, 0r,Firm-Oldham & Oldham 57 ABSTRACT A kitecomprising a flexible air foil contoured structure formed of top andbottom sheets or members joined together at rear margins thereof, and aplurality of vertically positioned axially extending partition sheetsextending between the top and bottom members at parallel, laterallyspaced portions thereof to form several air receiving pockets in thestructure and air flow slots are formed at the rear portions of thepockets.

8 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures AIR FOIL KITE This invention relates toamusement devices, and particularly to articles of the type of kites.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION Heretofore there have been many different typesof air supported amusement devices, such as kites, provided. These kiteshave been made in a variety of designs, and have been of varying degreesof durability and cost.

Many kites as heretofore made have been very fragile and were easilybroken in service, while other kites have been extremely difficult tooperate and achieve any satisfactory flying action therefrom.

The general object of the present invention is to provide a novel andimproved kite which is characterized by its durability and ease offlying.

A further object of the invention is to provide a kite which is madefrom fabric material and has no frame, and which includes a number ofair or wind receiving pockets to provide flying and/or liftcharacteristics to the improved kiteconstruction.

Another object of the invention is to provide a flexible air foilcontour kite having air flow slot means therein and having a pluralityof attaching means thereon for several different angles or attitudes forflying.

Further objects of the invention are to provide an extremely durable,flexible kite which is very readily inflated to assume a lift conditionunder any appreciable windage conditions, and which kite is very easy tofly.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention will bemade more apparent as the specification proceeds.

When referring to corresponding members shown in the drawings andreferred to in the specification, corresponding numerals are used tofacilitate comparison therebetween.

Reference now is made to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a bottom plan view of a kite of the invention shown in onepossible operative flying condition;

FIG.2 is a side elevation of the kite of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front elevation of the kite of the invention when inoperative form;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical section taken on line 4-4 ofFIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is a side elevation of a modified kite with a drogue chute. V

SUBJECT MATTER OF THE INVENTION This invention particularly relates to aflexible or foldable kite of generally air foil contour, which kite ismade with no framework means of any type and it includes a top andbottom sheet means operatively attached together at a rear margin of thestructure, a plurality of vertically extending axially directedpartition sheet means secured to and extending between the top andbottom sheet means at parallel, laterally spaced portions thereof toform a plurality of air receiving pockets in the kite, and controlstrings are attached to a front edge of the structure at laterallyspaced portions thereof to engage the kite for flying action.Controlla-. ble air flow slots are formed in rear portions of thepockets.

Attention now is directed to the details of the structure shown in theattached drawing, and a kite embodying the principles of the inventionis indicated as a whole by the number 10. This kite is formed, ineffect, solely from a fabric, or material wherein the fabric sections orsheets used in forming the kite can be secured together by sewing,adhesive or any other conventional means. The kite, when operative, hasa generally air foil contour. Specifically, the kite can be formed froma top sheet means 12 and a bottom sheet means 14. This sheet means ormembers can be formed from any suitable material, preferablylightweight, closely woven material such as nylon, sail or parachutefabric or the like. The two members 12 and 14 may be made from one sheetor strip of material, or they may be sewn or otherwise secured togetherat their rear ends, as indicated at 16.

A plurality of axially or rearwardly directed partition I members orsheets 18, 20, 22, 24 and 26 are provided and are positioned in parallelrelation between the top and bottom sheets and with the upper and loweredges or margins of these partition members or sheets being secured in aconventional manner to the top and bottom sheets. A plurality ofseparate, rearwardly directed pockets 28 are provided in the kite by anysuitable construction thereof.

FIGS. 2 and 4 of the drawings show that the kite 10, when inflated byhaving air blowing thereinto, takes the shape, roughly, of an air foilwhich is of generally triangular shape in vertical section with the kitedecreasing in height rearwardly of the structure in the mannerillustrated in the drawings to come to a point or rounded edge at therear of the kite.

So as to control the kite when flying the same, a plurality of controlstrings 30 are shown suitably attached as by grommets to a front edge ofthe kites structure. These control strings 30 are attached in thisinstance to laterally spaced portions of the front edge of the bottomsheet 14. The drawings illustrate that the front edge of the top sheet12 normally extends slightly forwardly from the front edge of the bottomsheet in the kites structure and this aids in forming air receivingpockets in the kite when it is exposed to any appreciable air current.Normally the open mouths of the individual air pockets provided in thekite will be exposed to a stream or pressure of air flowing toward therear of the kite structure and this provides a surprising and veryeffective flying or lifting action for the kite. Thus, it readilyassumes 'a slightlyupwardly inclined position and tends to move upwardlyfrom the ground. The kite itself can be substantially level in flight orit may assume other positions such as being inclined upwardly at a sharpangle.

It will also be realized that the frameless kite of the invention willnot necessarily have the exact firm, straight line dimensions or slopeas indicated in the drawings because of the flexible non-rigid nature ofthe kite.

To aid in producing some air flow through the air receiving pockets 28in the kite and aid in the kites lifting action, a plurality ofapertures 32 are provided in the various pockets in the kite. Theseapertures may be formed by just tearing or cutting a strip or sectionfrom the fabric in the associated top or bottom portion of the kitesheets. Specifically, the bottom sheet 14 has V- shaped apertures 32formed therein. Any suitable tabs or fasteners 33 can be secured to thefabric adjacent the apertures 32 to enable the openings to be closed,when desired.

FIG. 1 shows that four control strings 30 may be provided in the kite ofthe invention and these strings may comprise two different loopsindicated at 32a and 32b, whereby the loops are centered at the centerof the kite and can be attached to a unitary control string 34 by whichthe kite of the invention is flown. This kite has provided veryattractive flying and amusement characteristics and it may be flownunder both light and severe wind conditions. The kite is very durableand it is light in weight whereby it flies readily by even unskilledpersonnel.

While upper and lower sheet means have been referred to in describingthe kites structure, the pockets 28 can be formed from separate top andbottom fabric strips or means and partition strips or means of anysuitable nature and assembly. Hence, a plurality of pocket forming meansare secured together in lateral abutment to form the pocketed fabrickite of the invention.

Small tabs of fabric 36 may be provided on the kite at laterally spacedportions thereof to extend downwardly therefrom and have grommets 37therein to engage the strings 30 for a modified flying action or angleof attack for the kite. The tabs 36', it will be seen, are locatedrearwardly in the kite from the front edge thereof and, when theattaching strings 30 are secured thereto, will provide for a greater orsharper angle of attitude for the kite when it is being flown.Th'us,'use of the tabs 36 for engaging the strings 30 can provide for anangular positioning of the kite at an upward inclination of betweenabout 45 and 60 for rapidly attaining a relatively highposition. But useof the grommets at the front edge of the'kite or tabs at about the frontedge of the lower sheet in the kite still permits it to have asubstantially horizontal attitude in flight even at a relatively greatheight such as 1,000 feet.

One further important advantage of the present construction is that thekite is believed to be lifted by the vacuum formed over it due to itsair foil contour on its upper surface. The primary purpose of the windis to maintain the wing shape of the kite and to supply air flow overand under the kite to maintain its vacuum and flight characteristics..

In tests of the kite, it has been found to be preferable to have theleads or strings 30 that are secured to the kite be at leastapproximately 36 inches or more in length.

The kite can be caused to descend by giving a sharp jerk on the line 34as this abruptly turns the kite over the like. The drogue is an open bagtype normally tethered to the kite by two spread lines 42 to hold thedrogue open when the kite is flying. Typically, with a kite about 2 feetlong, 2% feet wide, the tether lines 30 will be about 10 feet long, thedrogue lines 42 about 5 feet long and the drogue about 12 inches indiameter and 18 inches long.

From the foregoing comments, it is believed that the objects of theinvention have been achieved and a novel, improved kite has beenprovided by the invention.

While one complete embodiment of the invention has been disclosedherein, it will be appreciated that modification of this particularembodiment of the in- .vention may be resorted to without departing fromthe scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A kite comprising a flexible structure of air foil contour formed oftop and bottom sheet means attached to each other at a rear margin ofthe structure,

a plurality of vertical axially extending partition sheet meansextending between said top and bottom sheet means at parallel laterallyspaced portions thereof to form a plurality of air receiving pockets inthe structure, each pocket having an air discharge aperture formed inthe bottom sheet means adjacent the rear of the flexible structure, and

a single set of control strings attached to a portion of the structure.along laterally spaced portions thereof.

2. A kite as in claim 1 where the structure is of minimum height at therear thereof.

3. A kite as in claim 1 where closure and fastener means are operativelycarried adjacent the air discharge means to close the same.

- 4. A kite as in claim 1 which includes a drogue chute tethered to therear edge of the kite to stabilize the kite 5. A kite comprising aflexible structure formed of top and bottom sheets sealed together atone end and a plurality of vertically extending partition sheets securedto the top and bottom sheets to form a series of laterally aligned airreceiving pockets in the structure, each pocket being closed at one endand having a closeable aperture in the bottom sheet adjacent the closedend thereof, and

means for attaching a single set of aligned control strings to the kiteat laterally spaced portions thereof.

6. A kite as in claim 5 where a plurality of air receiving pockets withadjacent pockets having common partition means are formedin thestructure and the control strings are attached to the structure at thepartition means.

7. A kite as in claim 5 where the structure tapers downwardly in heighttoward the rear thereof and is generally of air foil contour whenoperative.

8. A kite as in claim 5 where the top sheet front edge protrudesforwardly of the bottom sheet front edge.

1. A kite comprising a flexible structure of air foil contour formed oftop and bottom sheet means attached to each other at a rear margin ofthe structure, a plurality of vertical axially extending partition sheetmeans extending between said top and bottom sheet means at parallellaterally spaced portions thereof to form a plurality of air receivingpockets in the structure, each pocket having an air discharge apertureformed in the bottom sheet means adjacent the rear of the flexiblestructure, and a single set of control strings attached to a portion ofthe structure along laterally spaced portions thereof.
 2. A kite as inclaim 1 where the structure is of minimum height at thE rear thereof. 3.A kite as in claim 1 where closure and fastener means are operativelycarried adjacent the air discharge means to close the same.
 4. A kite asin claim 1 which includes a drogue chute tethered to the rear edge ofthe kite to stabilize the kite in flight.
 5. A kite comprising aflexible structure formed of top and bottom sheets sealed together atone end and a plurality of vertically extending partition sheets securedto the top and bottom sheets to form a series of laterally aligned airreceiving pockets in the structure, each pocket being closed at one endand having a closeable aperture in the bottom sheet adjacent the closedend thereof, and means for attaching a single set of aligned controlstrings to the kite at laterally spaced portions thereof.
 6. A kite asin claim 5 where a plurality of air receiving pockets with adjacentpockets having common partition means are formed in the structure andthe control strings are attached to the structure at the partitionmeans.
 7. A kite as in claim 5 where the structure tapers downwardly inheight toward the rear thereof and is generally of air foil contour whenoperative.
 8. A kite as in claim 5 where the top sheet front edgeprotrudes forwardly of the bottom sheet front edge.